This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Recently The Tribune published two stories that could not have been more polar.

In the first, a special panel found Utah should pay executive elected officials as much as $50K per year more to attract better talent.

The second titled "Door Slams on housing wait list" outlined the hard times for those families in the grip of poverty due to lack of funding.

The first feature argues that better pay buys better talent, talent that could/should be able to solve the problems outlined in the article featuring the dearth of dollars to help free families and children from an unending cycle of poverty.

The current elected bunch solves few problems while many Utahns believe any money that could be used to raise pay for elected officials would be better spent helping those truly in need.

It should be pointed out that none of the current crop of politicians made a pitch for a pay raise before being elected.

The disconnect in our political system is driven by unfettered campaign contributions.

Until all elections are publicly funded and we create a level playing field for fresh talent, we will continue to kick all cans down the road.